The robust form, the broad, noble brow and majestic looks, the naked arm and shoulder, the lions' skins among which he lay, and the fair, fragile feminine creature that kneeled by his side, might have served for a model of Hercules reconciling himself, after a quarrel, to his wife Dejanira.
"And, once more, what seeks the lady of my heart in her knight's pavilion at this early and unwonted hour ?" "Pardon, my most gracious liege--pardon!" said the Queen, whose fears began again to unfit her for the duty of intercessor.
"Pardon--for what ?" asked the King.
"First, for entering your royal presence too boldly and unadvisedly--" She stopped.
"THOU too boldly!--the sun might as well ask pardon because his rays entered the windows of some wretch's dungeon.

But I was busied with work unfit for thee to witness, my gentle one; and I was unwilling, besides, that thou shouldst risk thy precious health where sickness had been so lately rife." "But thou art now well ?" said the Queen, still delaying the communication which she feared to make.
"Well enough to break a lance on the bold crest of that champion who shall refuse to acknowledge thee the fairest dame in Christendom." "Thou wilt not then refuse me one boon--only one--only a poor life ?" "Ha!--proceed," said King Richard, bending his brows.
"This unhappy Scottish knight--" murmured the Queen.
"Speak not of him, madam," exclaimed Richard sternly; "he dies--his doom is fixed." "Nay, my royal liege and love, 'tis but a silken banner neglected.
Berengaria will give thee another broidered with her own hand, and rich as ever dallied with the wind.

Every pearl I have shall go to bedeck it, and with every pearl I will drop a tear of thankfulness to my generous knight." "Thou knowest not what thou sayest," said the King, interrupting her in anger.

"Pearls! can all the pearls of the East atone for a speck upon England's honour--all the tears that ever woman's eye wept wash away a stain on Richard's fame?
Go to, madam, know your place, and your time, and your sphere.

At present we have duties in which you cannot be our partner." "Thou hearest, Edith," whispered the Queen; "we shall but incense him." "Be it so," said Edith, stepping forward.--"My lord, I, your poor kinswoman, crave you for justice rather than mercy; and to the cry of justice the ears of a monarch should be open at every time, place, and circumstance." "Ha! our cousin Edith ?" said Richard, rising and sitting upright on the side of his couch, covered with his long camiscia.